Can the Packers Stop Sam Darnold?
If you told any football fan four weeks ago that Sam Darnold would be an MVP candidate, everyone would have laughed at you. However, through four weeks, Sam Darnold is playing fantastic football. His season stats are already at eight touchdowns and only two picks. When first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy was lost for the season with a torn meniscus, everyone was ready to count out the Vikings. Darnold has proved everyone wrong and has been a very serviceable quarterback for the Vikings. If he keeps it up, he could help them become an excellent team.
The Packers face the Vikings this week at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The main issue for the Packers right now is whether to use Jordan Love or Malik Willis. Malik has played great football and has helped the Packers keep their season alive by beating the Colts and Titans. Love is still recovering from his MCL sprain but can start this week. The problem is to start Willis and see if he can continue the magic for another week, or start Love. It does not make sense to rush Love back into the lineup. His backup has been reliable, and if they lose, the Packers will only be at 2-2, which is much better than the feared 0-4 when Love went down. The Vikings’ defense has been playing great too, shutting down a high-powered 49ers offense and a really good Texans offense. Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson are lighting it up so far, and if the Packers don’t shut them down or contain Aaron Jones, it could be a long game.
I am not as worried about the defense as I have been in past years. After bad defense in Week One against the Eagles, Jeff Hafley’s unit has bounced back very well and forced Anthony Richardson to throw three picks and a pick-six from Will Levis. Xavier McKinney is becoming a star in Green Bay, and if the pass rush can maintain consistency, this defense could finally become top-10 again. Jaire Alexander has been very solid, and the rookies have been doing a good job. The Packers will need to be aggressive to stop the Vikings. I have faith in this team, and I believe if either quarterback starts, the Packers have a very good chance to hand Minnesota their first loss of the season. This matchup can be a statement win for this young team, and I believe they can get it done.
